David’s Song of Deliverance
1David spoke the words of this song to Yahweh on the day Yahweh delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2He said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, 3the God of my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior who saves me from violence. 4I call on Yahweh, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. 5For the waves of death surrounded me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 6The cords of Sheol coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 7In my distress I called on Yahweh; I cried out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry reached his ears.
Yahweh Descends in Storm
8The earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the heavens trembled; they shook, because he was angry. 9Smoke rose from his nostrils; fire from his mouth consumed — coals blazed out from him. 10He bent the heavens and came down, with thick darkness under his feet. 11He rode on a cherub and flew; he appeared on the wings of the wind. 12He made darkness his covering around him — a canopy of dense waters and thick clouds. 13From the brightness before him, coals of fire blazed. 14Yahweh thundered from heaven; the Most High raised his voice. 15He shot his arrows and scattered them; he loosed lightning and threw them into confusion. 16The channels of the sea were exposed, the foundations of the world laid bare, at Yahweh’s rebuke, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
Rescued from Deep Waters
17He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he pulled me out of deep waters. 18He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. 20He brought me out into an open place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 21Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness; he repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 22For I have kept the ways of Yahweh; I have not turned wickedly from my God. 23For all his judgments are before me, and I have not departed from his statutes. 24I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. 25Yahweh repaid me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
The Faithfulness of God
26With the faithful you show yourself faithful; with the blameless you show yourself blameless; 27with the pure you show yourself pure, but with the crooked you show yourself shrewd. 28You save the humble people, but your eyes are on the proud, to bring them down. 29For you, Yahweh, are my lamp; Yahweh lights up my darkness. 30With you I can charge a troop; with my God I can leap over a wall. 31As for God, his way is perfect; Yahweh’s word is refined; he is a shield to all who take refuge in him.
The God Who Trains Me for Battle
32For who is God besides Yahweh? And who is a rock besides our God? 33God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect. 34He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and sets me secure on the heights. 35He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your humility has made me great. 37You have widened my steps beneath me, and my ankles have not given way. 38I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. 39I consumed them and crushed them so they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 40You armed me with strength for battle; you made those who rose against me bow beneath me. 41You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and I destroyed those who hated me. 42They looked, but there was no one to save them — they cried to Yahweh, but he did not answer them. 43I ground them like the dust of the earth; I crushed them and trampled them like mud in the streets.
Victory Over the Nations
44You delivered me from the strife of my people; you kept me as head of nations. A people I did not know now serve me. 45Foreigners cringe before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 46Foreigners lose heart, and come trembling out of their strongholds.
A Closing Hymn of Praise
47Yahweh lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, the rock of my salvation — 48the God who grants me vengeance and subdues peoples under me, 49who brings me out from my enemies. You lift me high above those who rise against me; you rescue me from the violent man. 50Therefore I will praise you, Yahweh, among the nations, and I will sing praises to your name. 51He gives great victories to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed — to David and his descendants forever.”
